Chris Weidman expecting easier win against Anderson Silva in rematch

It took UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman less than two rounds to take out former divisional king Anderson Silva (33-5) when the two tussled in July. The stumble was Silva’s first inside the Octagon and, in the eyes of many, came as the result of “The Spider” not taking Weidman as seriously as he should have based on the Brazilian’s decision to showboat in the bout shortly before getting laid out.

With a rematch on the horizon, it might seem safe to assume Silva won’t make the same mistake and deliver a more difficult challenge for Weidman to overcome. However, the unbeaten title-holder isn’t so sure that will be the case.

“People say that he’s going to get pissed off, and it’s going to be this whole new Anderson Silva – it’s going to be easier,” predicted Weidman in an interview with MMAJunkie.

Asked to elaborate, the 28-year old pointed to Silva’s past performances being similar to their showdown while reminding fans he himself wasn’t at the top of his game entering their original effort.

“You’ve got to remember, I was coming off a year layoff and surgeries; I had elbow surgery and shoulder surgery – a serious shoulder surgery. So there was a lot of time off for a year, and I went in there and ended up beating him,” explained the 10-0 Weidman. “This next fight, I’ve been training nonstop. I’ve been getting better every day, and I’m still growing a lot.”

” It makes it a little easier for me knowing that he’s going to put his hands down and he can do all that stuff, but I know if I connect on him, I’m going to knock him out,” he concluded. “I have a lot of options in this next fight. I’m even more comfortable on my feet with him in this next fight, which is going to open up my takedowns and submissions even more. So I’m really confident going into this next fight.”